Bord Iascaigh Mhara / Irish Sea Fisheries Board

BIM hosts Farming Seaweed in Ireland workshop to help develop vision for the sector

23 April 2019

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s seafood development agency hosted a ‘Farming Seaweed in Ireland’ workshop in Ennis on 10th April. The aim of the workshop was to help develop a vision for the sector in response to a growing interest in farmed seaweed and in the production of seaweed products arising from recent seaweed aquaculture licence approvals.

There is currently 130ha of seaweed licensed capacity in Ireland according to BIM estimates. The market for farmed seaweed has grown in recent years. Current uses for Irish farmed seaweed exist in food and drink, cosmetics and pharma industries. Atlantic Wakame ( Alaria Esculenta) is the most common seaweed farmed in Ireland.

BIM supports including site development, grant aid and business development formed part of the discussions. Organic certification, seaweed drying and processing methods were also addressed.

Over 70 industry representatives including seaweed producers, regulators and processors attended the one day workshop in Co Clare.

Full details on the workshop including speakers and presentation slides can be viewed here.

L-R: Fiona Moejes, Bantry Marine Research Station and Lucy Watson, BIM pictured at the BIM Farming seaweed in Ireland workshop‌